Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1887-04-30

the bolu rascal Will be Securcu, anu III
once brought to the gallows. | will
Immediately"
mo, no., my dear friend. do nothing
yet interrupted the other; ''thiS affair
must remain a secret, in order to avoid,
Impossible, the disgrace of a highly es'
teemed family, You have not yet
learned the name Of the bandit.
well, who is itP' demanded his
friend.
at is-n
"Why do you hesitatc' 1t is mott
trust"
The Marquis came nearer. ''Alas!'
said he, ''your worst fears are correct;
the mysterious highwayman is none
other than your own brother-in-law.
the Count de Mirahcau."
Count de Saillant became deadly
pale.
''IIa! the scoundrcl.' he murmured;
"has it come to this? You are sure,
Marquis?"
''Only too, sure, my poor friend"
"You recognized him beyond all
doubt?'
Beyond all doubt; as he stopped to
take the purse the mask fell from his
face, and in the moonlight | could not
fail to recognize the young Count"
did he perceive that you knew
him?'
Undoubtedly; | spoke a few threat
ening words to him that must have con-
WINGED him of it,
''Wha did he do thcnP'
.'He coolly laughed, and aimed at
me again with his gun, but | escaped.
He arrived at the castle a half hour
after | did, and, | hear, has gone at
once to his room"
you have spoken to no Il else OF
this?' asked Saillnt
''No one."'
The ~villain.' cried the Count, be-
side himself with rage. ''But he shall
not escape punishment; he shall be a
ice apprehended and imprisoned fol
life, that no further disgrace may be
brought upon his family
The Marquis merely bowed a silen
approval, adding, compassionately: :"
will 90 back TO the company, my friend
it is best that no unpleasant sensation
be excited till the matter is further in
vestigated.'
"You are right, my good Charras,'
/ replied the Count; land | will go a
once to the wretched man."
While his guest returned to the sa
Ion, the host endeavored to collect hi
bewildered senses, and repaired to thu
apartment of his brothcr-in-law.
; Mirabeau lay sleeping soundly,
night-lamp burning dimly on the tabl,
near his bed.
Roughly and uncercmoniously hi
| visitor shook him by the shoulder, I'm
, til, rubbing his eyes dreamily, tn
? sleeper awoke.
= "What on earth do you want?' h
= asked. staring at Saillant; ''what ar
you waking me for at this time o
5 night? is the castle ON fire or whatP'
= What do | want?' repeated til
4 other, with smothcred rage and scorT
t 81 want to tell you that you are a mis-
S cradle, sncaking, cowardly scoundrel
( That's what | want
a "Well, that is Il fine compliment, t
e be sure replied Mirabeau, coolly; "ar
you drunk, Saillant, or do you think
l polite, now, to waken a man out c
the sweetest slumber just to speak S
rudely? Why can't you let II f@lloN
enjoy the sleep of the rightcous?'
e And, with this, he quietly turne
o over ON his side.
c "The sleep of the rightcous!' erie
II the Count, in uncomfortable wratl
"How can you pretend to SLEEP
shameless fellow that you areP You
l you are the dastardly rogue that ha
e been haunting my forcst!'
"Well, that's true enough; | am til
l. man; but is it for a little thing liz
that, that you are making all this III
l. timely fuss?'
"A little thing!" shrieked Saillan
e ''None of that, sir. You think, pc
y haps hat your highway robberics wi
be regarded as an idle prank; this vel
1t evening yon have robbed my frien
Charas; he has recognized you, an
d your shameful storyi is known and crit
aloud for punishment"
4 "Well, for heavens sake, brother
T. why couldn't you wait till morning t
s. coniidc to me this pleasant informi
&c tion?' asked Mirabcau with undi
turbed GOODNESS. alt is true that
have robbed your friend Charras, an
n, the eight others, but what does TIL
e prove against me?n
5, "Ahd you can ask such an idiot
id question:" cried Saillant. "For II
part, | should sayit proves you a goo,
st f%0r-nothing scoundrel."
id 81 fail to see it in just that ligh
L. dear brother" answered the 9th,
tie meekly; ''but | think your condu,
y proves you a senseless fool. Can yo
Is really pretend to believe that | ha,
robbed these cowardly mobiles for IL
Mt sake of Il few paltry louis dor? 1t W;
b. simply an experiment; ! wished
ID prove their courage. and my own ais
is 1t is true the experiment was a risk
d one, but has been thoroughly satisfa
g tory on my side, while proving you
friends miserable towards, who woul,
J. in truth succumb to the very first stru
ID gle with the candlle."
ID Taking a key from the table nei
is him, he now presented it TO the Coun
l. saying:
he "Opcn my desk there and reno
y the second drawer
Utterly bewildcred by Mirabeau
n im%perturbable n@onchalance, Sailla
I'd silently obeyed.
v Within the drawer lay nine purse
ID a paper affixed to each bearing II
is name of the former owner.
,n ,.po,.h,ns The ,,,;n ,,,;.f,, ,,o,, that